Safe or vault



f0, HILL.

EAPE 0R VAULT.

(No Model.)

Pate ntd July 11, 1893.

fzz 7/62? for. M /4;z/

NrTED STATES 4 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HILL, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SAFE OR VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,142, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed December 1'7, 1892. Serial No. 455,518. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safe or Vault Casings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in safes, vaults and other receptacles for storing valuables, which will make it more difficult if not impossible for burglars to rifle them of their contents, and consists more particularly of the construction which is herein described.

Figure 1, is a view of my safe and vault protector, showing a preferred form of construction when used in connection with a safe. Figs. 2 and 3, show certain details of construction.

My invention as applied to safes consists in reality of a portable vault. In this form a frame consisting of two inverted U shaped metal bars, A, A, are united together by a large number of pipes O, 0. These pipes, which are of metal, are placed a short distance from each other, the exact distance being immaterial but probably being about equal to the diameter of the pipes. These pipes are not intended to be very strong, but rather so that they may be easily bent. These pipes are also perforated with numerous small holes, 0, 0. Inside the pipes G, are the pipes D, which are of glass and extend throughout the length of the pipes C. These glass tubes are sealed at each'end and are filled with some substance such as chloroform, bromine, prussic acid or ammonia, which when released by the breakingof the tubes will escape through the holes in the metal tubes and make it impossible for a person to remain in the same room with it. The holes in the pipes should be on the bottom of the pipes to permit the chemicals to run out but may also be located in other positions in addition if desired. In the drawings not all the pipes are shown as perforated but all are supposed to be perforated. Those which are perforated only on the bottom side would not show in the drawings.

The main frame A, is, in cross section, of

the shape shown in Fig. 2. That is, it is of the shape of a rectangle with a square taken out of one corner, or an angle iron with one branch quite thick. The frames are so placed that this recess is to the outside. At the back a separate frame composed of square iron bars with similar pipes, fits snugly in the recess of the main frame and is fastened to it by screws, E, which are inserted from the inside of the frame. The object of this is to make it difiicult to get at the screws to take the frame apart. As shown in Fig. 2 these screws are inserted at points between the pipes, O. A preferable construction to this is that shown in Fig. 3, where the bolts E, are inserted in the center of the holes to be occupied by the pipes C, before the side pipes are screwed in place. These bolts also pass through holes in the ends of the pipes in the back frame thus securely locking everything in place. When the side pipes are screwed in place they then surround the head of the bolt and make it impossible to get at them without taking the whole frame apart. The opposite ends of the side pipes are secured from turning by having small screws inserted into them similar to the screw F, of Fig. 2. The heads of these are shown in Fig. 1.

Within the recess formed by the angle of the front frame, fits the door which is formed of a framework and pipes similar in general construction to the back. Inside the pipes however is a steel plate, L. On the inside of this steelplate it is contemplated to put any of the approved form of permutation or combination locks such as used in safes. It is also contemplated to use thrust bolts, H, H, fitting in holes, 1,1, as is common to safes. In fact any approved means used in securely locking safe doors may be used for locking the doors of my device. The edges of the door instead of being straight and smooth as shown may be made in ledges and irregular shapes as iscommon in safes. The special means used for locking the door forms no part of my invention. 1

I have shown the bottom as composed of a steel plate, M. Ordinarily this will be sufficient for safes. If desired the frames and the pipes may be carried under the safe also.

The safe itself is entirely independent of my vault or protecting casing, and is mounted upon wheels in such a manner that it may be easily rolled out to open the door and get at it. A burglar wishing to get at the contents of the safe would first have to get at the safe. He will not be able to pick the lock and if he bends any of the pipes, as he might readily do, the glass tubes are broken, thus releasing the chemicals and making it impossible to work about it. Neither can he use an explosive without bending some of the pipes and releasing their contents. Moreover, even if an explosive is used, it would probably break only those pipes near it which would not release the safe. If they should wait for the eifect of the chemicals to pass away they would still have to break more pipes to get at the safe which would release more chemicals and waste more time, something of which burglars as a rule do not have much to spare. As applied to vaults these pipes would be in a frame which would be built inside the vault and next to the walls. The pipes would be at such a distance apart that it would be necessary to break several in order to force an entrance. The chemicals being released in the interior of the vault, their effect would not be soon dissipated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. In a repository for valuables, the combination of a series of perforated metal pipes surrounding the same, and sealed glass tubes contained therein and containing a volatile compound which is inimical to life, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a portable vault, the combination of the frames A, A, the perforated pipes (J, 0, connecting the same, the front and rear frames 13, B, and their similar pipes C, (J, one of the frames B, being hinged as a door, a suitable locking device for the same and a series of sealed glass tubes containing a volatile compound inimical to life contained one in each of the pipes O, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a portable vault of the character described, the combination with the frames and pipes as shown, of a series of bolts for holding the frames and pipes together which pass through portions of both frames, the head of which bolts are inclosed within the ends of the pipes, substantially as shown and described.

4:. In a portable vault of the character described, the combination with the frames and pipes as shown, of a series of bolts for holding the frames and pipes together which pass through portions of both frames and into the pipes of one series, the heads of which bolts are inclosed within the ends of the pipes of another series, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HILL.

Witnesses:

G. W. CoRLIss, H. L. REYNOLDS. 

